Just picked up a 1962 Belair 327 4speed no power steering no power brakes. I want to leave body stock and have a good and low great handling suspension and brakes. What is the best route to go on rear suspension 4 link, bags? I want to use 2" drop spindles on front with disc brakes but I want to keep the wheels 15" plus++, which is the best company for these parts? What model of car will booster and mastercylinder work? Also I work at napa does anyone have part numbers or aplication for the power steering box and pump parts I need to adapt power steering on this car? What all parts will work? Any help is greatly appreciated. Also need some 4 door inspiration! Pictures please.
For suspension pieces, go to Hotckis. It made a world of difference on my Biscayne. As for brakes, I bought a kit from Cl***ic Industries because they were on sale. Its made by Master Power. Completely bolt in and trouble free.
On my last '61 Belair I rebuilt the rear upper and lower arms with new bushings, but first I boxed all three arms with 1/8" plate. I was running a strong 468 in it with a turbo 400. Never a hint of wheel hop. I swapped a set of '66-up Corvette spindles and disc brakes using the p***enger car steering arms drilled to match the Corvette steering arm bolt size. I adapted a '78 or so Monte Carlo SS mc, booster and distribution block. Worked great. One coil out front and rear. Adapter the 1.25" front sway bar from the Monte SS and bought an Addco 1" rear bar. Off the shelf gas shocks. This was done in '91/92 so aftermarket parts availability is much better now I believe. Charlie
I adapted a 80's vintage full size car power box by grafting the frame nest out of the donor car. I made a pitman arm from the donor and '61 arm - weldment. Now I believe one can buy an adapter to bolt bolt in your ch***is. Charlie
You can get all the bushings you need to rebuild the factory 3 link rear and have as good a set up as you will need. It will ride great and handle like a new car. Same for the front control arm bushings. I got all the parts for my 62 from NAPA. There is a steering box, I believe a 605, that two bolts will line up with your frame meaning you will have to drill one hole. Several companies furnish disk conversions for your car. Do a little search and you will find them. YearOne, Bob's Impala Parts, Sinclair Impala Parts are starting points. Unless you are going to use an engine stronger than a 409, boxing your control arms wont be necessary. When I did my 62, I had the frame out of the car. Sure makes it easier to clean and rebuild the frame. A lot of work, though. Ball joints are a good item to replace while you are at it. Makes a real improvement in how the car drives and handles. Don.t overlook the front sway bar busshings. New coil springs, both front and rear are available for the car. Might figure on replacing these if you tear the front down to replace bushings and install disc brakes. All you need to do is determine the rate of the spring you want to use. For engines heavier than the 350.327.283 you will need a heaavier front spring. There is a ***embly manual available for your car. Invaluable information. I got mine from Dunkirk.
I got new 2" drop spindles from CPP. What do I need to do on the rear to get an even stance? Who sells lowering springs or other options. My factory springs are junk. Any other opinions?
They had power steering as a stock option. Step away from the computer and open the books. You could also get power brakes from the factory. Those parts should still be available also. I know that everyone is going to squak on this one but the drums on those work just fine. They were big brakes even on the 6 cylinder cars. You can make them self adjusters with late model self adjusting pieces also available over the counter so all you really have to do is get them up to par and run with them. I bought all the front end parts for my '62 over the counter no specialty parts houses involved. Just trying to save you some cash.
If you're wanting disc brakes try ecihotrodbrakes.com. Used them for my subframed 40 Chevy, 60 Impala and 65 Impala. Never a problem installing and they work great.
There is a lot of flex in those backbone frames. If you make any serious power you need to box the center "X"on the top and bottom. The stock rear set up is pretty good. There are lots of suppliers for modified front "A" arms and brake kits.
CPP also offers rear springs for '58-'64 Chevrolet cars. Your choice of stock ride height ($105.00/pr.) or 1-1/2" lowered ($95.00/pr.) plus S/H. This is from their current #15 catalog. Since the coils are a single pigtail design, you can trim the open end to fine-tune the ride height.
I had a set of the dropped spindles but sent them back. They were very crudely made and also made of cast IRON!!!!
BRAKESdoing some reading this myself. Looks like 68-72 chevelle rotors fit the 59-64 Impala spindles directly but move the wheel mounting surface outboard. the guys at 348-409 have done this swap http://www.348-409.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19028&highlight=disc+brakes for rotors you can use either the metric caliper (late 70's early 80's G body (montecarlo cutl***) This guy is selling brackets on ebay, scarebird, uses 1978 monte carlo discs, and 1990 chevy celebrity calipers. Give all detail on parts, all are GM so you could do this with Napa parts. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chev...r_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5adaab8061 Im looking to do the same on 1963 Impala, Ill shoot you an IM, I'd like to stay in touch on this. My Impala build wont start for some time. Hydro boost is always an option, drive p/s pressure off powersteering pump, used on 90's mustangs and also large GM trucks / SUV's. But a traditional booster / master might be easier. This guy is selling kits on ebay, mgchevyparts, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1962...ptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories
Steering Looks like GM Saginaw 605 box is the best conversion for power steering, depends on if you want to just buy a kit, or try to find parts off other cars and build it up yourself. The kit includes rebuilt box but is expensive. Im looking at parts that will swap over. Need to use a manual steering center link if you convert to 605 box I dont have answer yet on which donor car is the best for swap material. other useful info, pitman arm 1959-1962 power & manual and 1963/1964 power use same pitman arm 3741383, or forged 3741383, interestingly 1963-1982 Corvette ps uses the same. (for reference 63/64 manual is different 3820345 or forged 3820407 it is different) Stock Impala box p/n's 1959-1963 power steering 5673149, manual 5674333 What I really want to know is what 605 box will bolt into 1963 Impala, will it use the Impala pitman arm? I'd like to pull power steering box out of late model with the late model pump and use it all. need to watch for flare vs o-ring steering hoses, just to be sure of what you have. conversion fittings or new hoses can be made.
I've talked to this guy: This guy is selling kits on ebay, mgchevyparts, http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1962-...Q5fAccessories He seems pretty smart, easy to deal with, and I was thinking real hard about that kit. The Scarebird kit is interesting though. I'm running a big block, and threads I've read recommend the 11" rotors (early Chevelle?), with full size calipers, with a "more is better" at***ude. We won't be racing, but she wants to drive the car, and stop it. I would also like to hear your end result story if you would be willing to share. Thanks!
I would agree - our stuff's main criteria is fitting inside the stock rims, which 11" rotors won't do.
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